LilMtnCbn
05-20-2004, 06:16 AM
http://www.channelcincinnati.com/news/3324122/detail.html
After Arrests, Meth Suspects' Children Left For Adoption
Caseworker Gets High Just Driving Kids Away From Home
As methamphetamine production and use continue to plague the Tri-State, the
small children of those involved in meth arrests often are the forgotten
victims.
Many local youths end up in the custody of the county, but not until after
they've been living amid the dangerous chemicals needed to make the drug, WLWT
Eyewitness News 5's John London reported Wednesday.
To illustrate the scope of the problem, a caseworker in Clermont County started
getting light-headed as she drove three children from a meth home. Her windows
were up, and she got high, London reported. That's how much contamination the
three children -- ages 2, 4 and 5 -- had absorbed.
"She was just like a little zombie," foster parent Susie Wagner said of one of
the children she adopted after a meth bust. "And I don't know if I'm allowed to
say that or not, but she was like a little zombie. She just -- there was no
reaction."
Nearly 50 children have been taken from meth homes in Clermont County in the
last year, London reported. At 19 months, Wagner's adopted child is smiling,
playing and improving in a foster care home two counties away.
The Clermont County Sheriff's Department aggressively pursues meth labs. The
more busts, the more services are needed for children caught in the innocent
middle, London reported.
"You can see the child's toy right there," Children's Services spokeswoman Anne
Arbaugh said. "Next to that, (there is) filth and dirty garbage. This is a
child's bedroom."
Meth families are known to stay up for days at a time, then sleep for days at a
time. One recent newborn already was addicted to meth, London reported. One
home had no water, heat or food, but extensive surveillance equipment.
"These are all very typical examples (of what you find in meth homes)," Arbaugh
said.
The contamination is so complete, the children must leave their stuffed
animals, their blankets, all that's most familiar behind. Placement costs for
the new children alone are running upwards of $375,000, London reported.
"My biggest fear is that there's going to be an explosion, and a child's going
to be killed as a result of this," Arbaugh said.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
After Arrests, Meth Suspects' Children Left For Adoption
Caseworker Gets High Just Driving Kids Away From Home
As methamphetamine production and use continue to plague the Tri-State, the
small children of those involved in meth arrests often are the forgotten
victims.
Many local youths end up in the custody of the county, but not until after
they've been living amid the dangerous chemicals needed to make the drug, WLWT
Eyewitness News 5's John London reported Wednesday.
To illustrate the scope of the problem, a caseworker in Clermont County started
getting light-headed as she drove three children from a meth home. Her windows
were up, and she got high, London reported. That's how much contamination the
three children -- ages 2, 4 and 5 -- had absorbed.
"She was just like a little zombie," foster parent Susie Wagner said of one of
the children she adopted after a meth bust. "And I don't know if I'm allowed to
say that or not, but she was like a little zombie. She just -- there was no
reaction."
Nearly 50 children have been taken from meth homes in Clermont County in the
last year, London reported. At 19 months, Wagner's adopted child is smiling,
playing and improving in a foster care home two counties away.
The Clermont County Sheriff's Department aggressively pursues meth labs. The
more busts, the more services are needed for children caught in the innocent
middle, London reported.
"You can see the child's toy right there," Children's Services spokeswoman Anne
Arbaugh said. "Next to that, (there is) filth and dirty garbage. This is a
child's bedroom."
Meth families are known to stay up for days at a time, then sleep for days at a
time. One recent newborn already was addicted to meth, London reported. One
home had no water, heat or food, but extensive surveillance equipment.
"These are all very typical examples (of what you find in meth homes)," Arbaugh
said.
The contamination is so complete, the children must leave their stuffed
animals, their blankets, all that's most familiar behind. Placement costs for
the new children alone are running upwards of $375,000, London reported.
"My biggest fear is that there's going to be an explosion, and a child's going
to be killed as a result of this," Arbaugh said.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
